Meet Melanie Lalande | Creative Director/Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melanie Lalande and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melanie, what role has risk played in your life or career?
When I was younger, I wasn’t fully aware of the risks I was taking. As I grew older, I realized that the patterns of behavior I developed led to fantastic adventures—ones I couldn’t have foreseen. What I’ve come to understand is that personal growth often comes in surprising packages, and risk is a key element of the experience.

One example of taking a risk is when I created a dance curriculum for a magnet high school. At that time, I didn’t even own a computer, let alone know how to use one. The intellectual aspect of the task was straightforward, but the IT component was quite challenging. Another significant leap was when I left a very stable job with a 401K at the age of 30 to move to NYC and pursue my career in dance. I told my students that although I had no job and no leads, I felt I needed to be there. I believed, “You don’t have to teach a flower to bloom.” Something in me recognized the risk, but I also knew it would work out.

Furthermore, I said yes to working on creating a Hip-Hop tour, despite having spent my life as a classically trained dancer. I also agreed to run a circus, knowing very little about clowns, acrobats, and circus arts. Moving to Quebec, Canada, and buying a dance studio where the primary language is French was another bold step.

At the heart of all these ventures is my love for dance, performance, and the performers. Each of these opportunities presented themselves in packages slightly different from what one might think I was capable of, yet they led to beautiful connections and experiences that I have cherished and lived.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We currently live in Sherbrooke, Quebec, a gorgeous area known as the Eastern Townships in Canada. It’s fall here, and the leaves are turning. The colors are unbelievable. If my friends visited, we would walk along the St. Francois River. We would visit the beautiful old church that has been masterfully repurposed into modern-day climbing center. Of course, we would also visit Ecole Cadence, the dance studio my husband and I purchased in 2022. It is housed in a historical building, the College of Mont Notre-Dame, which is older than the country itself. The building has a soul, as do the studios—a real East Coast place to learn to dance! We would dine at places like Vin Polisson, known for its amazing wines, and Baumann, which offers food that elevates dining to another level of pleasure. The nature, the history, the French language and culture—it is truly a glorious place to live.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I feel incredibly blessed for the extraordinary individuals who have guided and supported me throughout my journey. I had the privilege of training with esteemed mentors like Dan Joyce and Susan Shields at GMU, as well as with renowned dancers Lynn Simonson, Alexandra Beller, and Katiti King. My studio teacher, Alzine Cuppett, not only ensured I received Cecchetti training but also encouraged me to earn my teaching certifications in jazz, tap, ballet, and modern from Dance Masters of America, all before I even started college—a foundational experience for which I am deeply grateful. Adrian Bolton, a towering figure in the DC-Northern VA dance community, enriched my understanding and passion for dance. Brian and Carin Lazarus generously opened doors for me in my professional life through their leadership at Media Star Promotions. My breakthrough at Cirque du Soleil was made possible by the incredible Sylvie Galarneau, Luc Tremblay, and Daniel Ross, whose faith in my abilities was transformative. I am also forever thankful to Krista Monson, James Hadley, Murielle Cantin, and Diane Quinn for their support and belief in my potential

Website: https://www.ecolecadence.com/

Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/ecolecadence

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ecolecadence

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id_7h-e2HqM&pp=ygUkT05FIE5JR0hUIEZPUiBPTkUgRFJPUCAyMDE1ICggc2hvcnQp

Other: https://vimeo.com/526709203?turnstile=0.CUz5ZzfcyTNrJLwWlIdLz802xodXKPv70o0RI4JWD85o99mgQFGSY0NEoqAZFxYN9wwZotbLKWqTjUo56s_atRFBezVuDtsa6WqL-b6By-scE4EdzcENiSC9Te7FawNhYPe4oiinFjF5VQ65xeaG7MxAESh3yDw9V2pd9R7yDuOa8wX2bk1w7wVylHrdTntmsP1xNgClot_J8Gh96U_v2BqKBnXWJ2yMEYZTx9WL3VrSmqCYHPN0OehLdfdbWBEStqb9RhC5Ny3YIKkky9E4_YXqJ1eHTceYYL7puhezSz891HNAxQ5GNYOJPZsA64yTSFAva_TKbmDwq_aX1Z3RnhG7Dt9w6XrYeCBdj2em4KVs6lLm_U-HNfSctPAxOQTlpBbzv9PS12VtZ447PakcWYWAtyNnNdlIkbyNVwy9WLlwEFoXX4B-NgMKMrzf2ggOsAyMqOXGd_2rQPMQGGixBcclFpE-onSWID8NGTLcdh_a8EpHnMHJcXrqNxbAd6mbQTzTMD9zQLPhjvU0UrtRi5LO7jDqSnwzRNWpHsaizjLINX3iyxfIm57nVVt2wpJmLCDWHoNSM4L1JmkrISzi-Fs09u437StRwfRxYFYJHqoy3MMFNsAVOF-GFvYIBx52TxQXEDibzEgRWWevoHGfljstO4Xys-iZz8dc7Z94oDKv0KD_7oTA81N6-GzMaJj-KzpsuLsdAM5WcrdoaIAjq43CNck7Lj_yYislAMJoYFNuUzb-rc0lC0uetYh-KHXW_7uq_V7Rld4CIAX_egDbcOGxYEdGc_dPO3kEmgmakiU.VyYngDzmt_eTuV_d8w1AJQ.3e24f2d6153e37f9d9c7fd364f11548d512380e072c68bd03d583b80ee818c73

https://www.facebook.com/GianniHowellDanceMedia/videos/melanie-lalande-you-will-forever-be-missed-at-love-and-we-are-all-so-grateful-to/1997804717198427/

https://www.pbssocal.org/shows/socal-connected/clip/behind-the-scenes-at-cirque-du-soleil

Image Credits
Ecole Cadence Photo Credit – Gabrielle Camire
Love video Credit- Gianni Howell